A member pointed out to me that I type more about the other side so with this thread I hope to make a change . In my opinion (we all will have one) the Western Shore Blind Laws turn market hunters' kids into waterfowler sportmen . When I speak of the WS I'm talking about the land that fall East of all highway bridges from the James North to the state line . Anything West of them are in the area where the blind laws start breaking down with too many stakeholders . Hunting in the 60's was a whole lot different than today , with very few blinds and no homes on the shoreline one could walk all day in the marshes shooting birds without seeing anybody and bait was the best duck call . Back then one was legal to shoot 30 after the set which never really ended , how days I unload the gun and start pulling decoys while scouting for the next days hunt . For me a duck blind is a place to take a break , get out of the cold, cook, and store gear, these days I only go in my own . Western shore baiting today is done by landowners to keep hunters away more so than by outlaw gunners b/c over the years the number of license blinds has climbed and made the waterfowler a watchdog of outlaws of any kind within 1000 yards of each blind . Yes most fixed blind owner stereotype floaters and see them as up to no good .Ice means two things for the WS hunter # 1 is waterfowl in huntable numbers and # 2 Float hunters following the birds but thanks to open water and fixed blind with hunters in them things work out good here . It's the river hunters West of the bridges that over tax the system and cause habit for all to deal with . The blind door is open for a discussion of what I call the Western shore , please give the left and right side a break

LD

A Market Hunter born 100 years to late:)/\__________<*)((((>{The hardest thing a duck hunter in Va. has to do is to Not read more into the blind laws then what is in black and white . Lewdog 1999http://www.vawfa.org

I think blind laws are seeing end of life in the next 10 years. I personally love the mobility of my floater but nothing beats a hunt out of a nice warm, dry blind you and a couple friends put together.

I see a day when you will have to get a building permit for a blind to ensure safety in the guys who will be using your blind without permission too. Then, insurance will have to be carried on the blind because some knucklehead may get hurt or killed in a blind owned by someone else. I like the no tresspassing laws in place now.

CheersDave

Big Iron's new best friend. If anyone wants an 8x10 autographed glossy picture of us together, just let us know.I'm thinking about starting another chapter of Northern VA Delta Waterfail with my best friends up here.

I can see changes made with the laws for blinds West of the bridges but blind laws will outlast the right to hunt here in Va. . I can see the day when a floating blind license will be sold by county instead of state for it would help slow down the over shooting of a spot and make more money for dgif to use. The WS starves for birds b/c the birds are coming down the coast or hung up in the rivers of the 5 state system and without blind laws the float hunters would force waterfowl out of this state in a matter of a few days .

LD

A Market Hunter born 100 years to late:)/\__________<*)((((>{The hardest thing a duck hunter in Va. has to do is to Not read more into the blind laws then what is in black and white . Lewdog 1999http://www.vawfa.org

LEWDOG wrote:A member pointed out to me that I type more about the other side so with this thread I hope to make a change . In my opinion (we all will have one) the Western Shore Blind Laws turn market hunters' kids into waterfowler sportmen . When I speak of the WS I'm talking about the land that fall East of all highway bridges from the James North to the state line . Anything West of them are in the area where the blind laws start breaking down with too many stakeholders . Hunting in the 60's was a whole lot different than today , with very few blinds and no homes on the shoreline one could walk all day in the marshes shooting birds without seeing anybody and bait was the best duck call . Back then one was legal to shoot 30 after the set which never really ended , how days I unload the gun and start pulling decoys while scouting for the next days hunt . For me a duck blind is a place to take a break , get out of the cold, cook, and store gear, these days I only go in my own . Western shore baiting today is done by landowners to keep hunters away more so than by outlaw gunners b/c over the years the number of license blinds has climbed and made the waterfowler a watchdog of outlaws of any kind within 1000 yards of each blind . Yes most fixed blind owner stereotype floaters and see them as up to no good .Ice means two things for the WS hunter # 1 is waterfowl in huntable numbers and # 2 Float hunters following the birds but thanks to open water and fixed blind with hunters in them things work out good here . It's the river hunters West of the bridges that over tax the system and cause habit for all to deal with . The blind door is open for a discussion of what I call the Western shore , please give the left and right side a break

I'm on the bay shore of the mainland the coast of Va. is about 20 miles to the East of me , we call it the Atlantic coast .

LD

A Market Hunter born 100 years to late:)/\__________<*)((((>{The hardest thing a duck hunter in Va. has to do is to Not read more into the blind laws then what is in black and white . Lewdog 1999http://www.vawfa.org

Heres my opinion, being I've hunted the Western Shore of the Bay my entire life. Duck blinds laws are needed in this area as theres entirely too many people hunting now days. When there were lots of ducks years ago (late 70's-Early 80's), many days you never heard or saw another hunter. Its different now, EVERYONE is into duck hunting. I'm not trying to discourage anyone, but alot of "newer" guys are giving the sport some negative feed back. In this day and age, waterfowlers do not need any one going down the marsh and acting up like a bunch of crazy people. It takes alot of hard work, time and a good amount of $$$ to hunt in this area of the Bay and I don't see things getting any better. Theres still places to be found to hunt successfully around these parts but you are going to have to think out the box and come up with alternative game plans and strategies for different birds and changing weather. This area's waterfowling is based on seasonal weather fronts and theres some days when I would not want to be any where in the world than down home in the marsh. The Western Shore is a unique place to hunt and hopefully, I'll be hunting and passing our traditions down to my children for years to come.

I'm on the bay shore of the mainland the coast of Va. is about 20 miles to the East of me , we call it the Atlantic coast .

LD

Now see boy, I thought you were onto something when you looked up the definition of irrelevant. Try google one more time there limpdog. Its odd to me that you dont consider yourself on the coast. When you look up "coastal map of virginia" there isnt a single image or map that doesnt include the western coast, I mean shore, of the bay.....and to make it better Matthews is in the dead center of them as well. I guess you know better than 90% of the maratime map/chart makers....you were in the Dept of Transportation at one time and all. I guess they didnt teach you the difference in the general term "coast" and the more descriptive "pelagic" coast.

Or just post a hunter wanted ad on here to satisfy some other needs. Only kidding guys. I am just glad I am not involved this week. It is almost as if no one "loves" me anymore.

CheersDave

Big Iron's new best friend. If anyone wants an 8x10 autographed glossy picture of us together, just let us know.I'm thinking about starting another chapter of Northern VA Delta Waterfail with my best friends up here.

For the last time Sport the only coast I give 3 dangs about is the one that runs from way up North all the way down South and the best I can tell you is to get over it .

LD

A Market Hunter born 100 years to late:)/\__________<*)((((>{The hardest thing a duck hunter in Va. has to do is to Not read more into the blind laws then what is in black and white . Lewdog 1999http://www.vawfa.org

so wait a minute guys im confused, i live in va and lew lives on the west coast so do i live on the east coast or the west coast, also im west of 95 so does that mean if i cross over 95 ill be at the beach or back in va

imaduckin up north wrote:so wait a minute guys im confused, i live in va and lew lives on the west coast so do i live on the east coast or the west coast, also im west of 95 so does that mean if i cross over 95 ill be at the beach or back in va

My head hurts AND I might be stupid .... `cause I don`t know if I need medication or education ....AND ain`t NOBODY for sure gonna "FIX' me !!!TALK ABOUT CONFUSION IMA...